Lighting device



July 11, 1950 A. J. FAUSEK ETAL 2,514,995

LIGHTING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ARTHUR J. FAUSEK IRWING E FAusEK (2/ W 5*- FIG. 4 I

ATTORN EY July 11, 1950 A. J. FAUSEK ET AL 2,514,995

LIGHTING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ARTHUR J. FAusEK Inwmc E F'AUSEK ATTORNEY i atented July 195,0 i

LIGHTING DEVICE Arthur J. Fausek and Irwing F. Fausek,

Clayton, Mo.

Application July s, 1948, Serial No. 39,384.

, This invention relates generally to lighting devices of the sparking type heretofore employed for igniting gas and other combustibles, and more specifically to the type of lighting device disclosed by United States Letters Patent No. 1,853,205, granted to us on April 12, 1932, the predominant object of the invention being to pro vide a lighting device of this type which, because of its improved construction and arrangement will not be accidentally actuated to create sparks in the event it is dropped, or falls to the floor, or

is otherwise subjected to impact.

The lighting device disclosed by the United States Letters Patent referred to above performs its intended function in a highly efiicient manner,

but one'deficiency is present in connection with the use of such lighting device which, under certain circumstances, might reduce, somewhat, complete safety of use of the lighting device. The

deficiency referred to is produced by the fact that the flint which is in the effective position with respect tothe abrasivemember of the lighting device is free at all times to move relative to said abrasive member in contact therewith, and, therefore, if the lighting device should be accidentally dropped and should strike the floor, or other" article, in a manner to cause the effectively posi tioned flint to move along the abrasive member,

sparks would be produced which might ignite gas present at the location at which the lighting device was dropped.

" The main purpose of the present invention is to improve the construction and arrangement of the lighting device of the United States Letters Patent referred to above in such manner that the effectively positioned flint is prevented from moving along the abrasive member in the event-the f lighting device is dropped, or otherwise receives an impact, whereby the danger incident to production of unintended sparks is entirely elimi- M v hwalls lb of the box-like structure 1 project rearnated. e

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved lightingdevice of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the lighting device illustrated by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the present invention. 1

Fig. 5 isa section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of still another form of the present invention.

Fig. 7 isa section taken on line 1-1 of Fi 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of yetanother form of the present invention.---- Y 2 Fig.9 is an end elevation of the form of the invention .shown in Fig. 8.

In the drawings, wherein are shown for purposes oi illustration, merely, several embodiments 5 of the invention, A designates in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the illustrated lighting device generally. The

lightingdevice Aincludes a handle I, an abrasive member 2 which is supported by a portion of said handle I, and ,a plurality of sparking elements,

10 or fiints 3 supported by another portion of the handle I in a manner to permit of one of said sparking, elements being movedwith respect to and in contact with said abrasive member so as to produce sparks. The handle I preferably is formed from a strip of metal, or other suitable -material, which is possessed of considerable resiliency, said strip being bent to assume a substantially U-shaped form, as is shown in Fig. 2. For the purpose of convenience in describing the an invention we designate one leg portion of the handle l by the reference character la, the other leg portion of the handle by the reference character lb, andthebowed connecting portion at the outer end of the handleby the reference character lo.

'The end portion of the leg portion lb of the handle I opposite the end thereof which joins the v bowed connecting portion lc thereof is shaped as is illustrated in Fig. 2; that is to say a yoke 4 is providedwhich is comprised of oppositely dis- :zz) posed side walls 4a and 4b and an end wall 40 which is formed integral with said'side walls 4a and 4b. The'yoke 4 is integrally joined to the leg portion la oi the handle I by an inclined connecting portion 5 whereby the handle I and the ,yoke '4 provide a unitary structure.

. Supported within the yoke 4 is a box-like structure'l which houses the abrasive member 2 of the device .A, said box-like structure having a bottom wall la, opposed side walls lb, and a rear Wall To. It is 'to be noted that the opposed side wardly of the rear wall of said box-like structure considerable distances and these rearwardly projected side wall portions perform a function to be hereinafter setforth. The opposed side walls ;'lb of the box-like structure 4 contact with the opposed portions 4a and 4b of the yoke 4, while I the forward edge of the bottom wall la of said box-like structure contacts with the portion 40 of said yoke, as is shown in Fig. 3.-

* The abrasive member 2 which may be formed of any suitable material, such as suitable metal, or the material known commercially as Lava," is provided with an opening 2 which extends longitudinally therethrough from end to end thereof, I and the opposed side walls of the box-like strucportion 4b, said tubular element at its opposite end being provided with extensions 91) which are bent outwardly so as to retain the tubular element in its effective place in the lighter structure abrasive member in place within the yoke 4.

. where it retains the box-like structure and -.the

The forward end portion ll} of the leg portion lb of the handle I is twisted approximatelyflllwith respect to the remainder of said leg ,portion, as is shown to good advantage in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward portion of said portion l preferably being tapered, and said portion has formed therethrough slots II and II" (Fig. 3) which extend longitudinally thereof. The portion "Ill, of the leg portion lb has slidably mounted there-v on an operating'member l2, said operating member contacting with a face of said portion Ill and there being a headed rivet l3 whose head contacts with the opposite face of said portion l0 and whose shank extends through the slot H and is received in a recess formed 'in said operating member 12.

Associated'with the portion In of the legportion lb is a head M of triangular shape, said head being supported'by a bolt l5 so'that it may be subjected to rotation when desired. The bolt includes an enlarged head ,portion 15a, an intermediate portion l5b of "less diameter than said head portion, and a screwthreaded' shank portion I50 which is of less diameter than said intermediate portion (Fig. 3). Thehead I4 is provided with an opening l6 through which the intermediate portion l5b of. thebolt.extends,..and a portion of said head surrounding said opening IB is interposed between a shoulder 152 1.formed on'the'bolt l5 and a 'faceportion of the portion Ill of the leg portion lb. The .operating member I2 is provided with a cavity I l'that receives a nut l8, and the screwthreaded shank portion 150 of the bolt l 5 is screwed into the bore ofsaidnut. Also, the intermediate portion [5b of the bolt l5 extends through the .slot ll of theportion Qllll of the leg portion lb. The sparking elements or fiints 3 are fixedlymounted on .the. head and project therefrom, there being three of these flints shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and .3. Additionally a leaf spring H! is provided for urginglthe operate ing member 12 and the parts .associatedthel'ewith, rearwardly, said leaf spring being secured at one of its ends to the wall 'lcofthe box-like structure 7 and having an arcuateportion at .its

opposite end which engages the headportion =.l5a

of the bolt l5. r 1

When the improved lightingdevice is ,not being actuated to produce sparks the effective sparking element 3 -is "maintained -.by .theleaf spring 19 .in the position in which .-.it .-is shown in full lines togoodadvantage inFig. 3; that -is to say said effective sparking element is disposed rearwardly of the abrasive .-member 2 .and.ou-t

of contact therewith, and, also, .free movement of the forward end .of the leg portion ;lb. is restrained by the leaf spring l9. Because of -this situation, :dropping .the lighting device to .the floor, or otherwise subjecting it to impact, will not cause sparks to be produced by movement of the efiective sparking element in contact with the abrasive member. When, however, it is desired to produce sparks through the use of the lighting device, the leg portions la and lb are grasped by the operator and with the thumb of the hand which grasps said leg portions the operator moves the operating member l2 forwardly against the force of the leaf spring I9 to bring the effective sparking element in contact with H 6 abrasive member. The operator then moves the leg portions la and lb quickly toward each other, whereby movement of the sparking ele- ..ment relative to the abrasive member in contact :therewith will produce sparks. When the sparks are being produced, as described above, the operatingmember I2 is held by the operators thumb in its :forward position, andafter said sparks have been produced said operating member is released, whereupon the leaf spring it. moves said operating member'rearwardly to dispose the effective sparking element out of contact with respect to the abrasive member 2'. v

When a sparking element has been usedrepeatedly in producin sparks it will become ,worn and when this 'happe'ns'the bolt l5 may 'be' .un-

screwed slightly to permit the head [,4 to be. rotated to bring an unworn sparking element into the effective position, whereupon the bolt.

is tightened tofhold said head in the ,positionfto which it has been adjusted' Obviously, when all .of the, sparkin elements associated with .a head l4 have become 'worn throughuse a new head with 'unwornsparking elements must be caused .to replace the. head with theworn'Isr 'ar.k-v

ing elements,

The rearwardly projected portions of theop posed side walls lb of thebox-like structures'erve as abutments which limitmovement .of the. leg

portion lb relative to the leg portion. la of the handle 1|. In other Words, thehead portion I5a of thebolt I5 is disposed between said rearwardly projected portions .of said opposed side walls lb and said head portion of said bolt contacts with said projectedportions of said opposed side walls at the opposite limits of movement. of the forward portion of the leg portion. lb relative to the leg portion la. V

The modified form of the invention ,ehownin Figs. 4 and 5 is constructed in accordance with the structure of the device illustrated Figs.

1, 2.and .3, with the exceptionthat mes-inane,

of Figs. ,4 and 15 is provided with n. .difierent ty e of locking means -for, .lock,ine' the efiectivelyflpo'si-ff tioned sparking element 2.6 against accidental movement in contact with the abrasive member 2|. The lockingmeansof Figs. 4,.andf5 com prises alatchzelement 22 whichzis pivotallysup ported by a;-pivot-e1ement 23 b tween alpnirioi ears 24 which project from the leg portion ,2.5

of the:handle .of the device.- The latch element 22 is provided with ananaularly extended 'por..

tion-2 2' 'at;its forward ,endandzthiszportionczzz .has a notch 26 formed therein at the'edge ,thereof. .Also, the rear portion o fth e latch. element 22 is spaced from an adjacent part :Qf'the leg p n and abowed eaf spring 'Wh ChfiS secured at one. end thereof to said leg portion, -25, is engaged :by I said .rear portion of the? latch element. The abrasive :member :2 lnof Figs. stand 5 is providedat oneaenddwith ameckportioniflil which :is smooth and .is of .;less diameter than the remainderpf theabrasive-mernber.

Wh n t gh ng device o n siaanu 5 1.51mi in use the leaf spring 27 maintains the angular...

portion 22 thereof in-aposition where an upper.

edge portion of the yoke portion29 and an upper edge portion a wall 30of the box-like structure 30 project into the notch 26 of said angular portion 22, as is shown in Fig. 5. This effectively locks the forward portion of the leg portion 25 against movement relative to the leg portion 25a, and when the leg portion 25 is locked against movement as described, the effective sparking element "20 -is disposed-adjacent to the smooth, reduced neck ofthe-abrasive member 28. When, however; it is desired to' actuate the device to produes-sparks, the operator grasps the leg portions 25 and 25a and with his thumb depresses the rear portion of the latch element 22 against the force of the leaf spring'zl. This moves the angular portion 22' of=-the latch element out of engagement with respect to the yoke portion 29 and the wall 30 of the boxlike structure 30, and permits the leg portion -25 to be moved in a manner to cause the effective sparking element to be moved along the face of the abrasive member in contact therewith so as to produce sparks.

I According to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and '7 the box-like structure 3| is rotatable "about the element 32 which extends through the'opening formed through the abrasive member 33. The box-like'structure 3| comprises opposed walls3la which are provided with projected portions3lb, and a wall 3 le from which an angularly extended wall 3 Id projects, the boxlike structure being open at the side thereof indicated by the reference character 3le. Also, the wall 3 Icof the box-like structure 3| has a notch 34 formed therein which performs an important function to be hereinafter set forth. The leg portion 35 of the handle of the device has a head 35 fixed" thereto by a bolt 31, said head fixedly supporting a plurality of sparking elements 38.

When thedevice of'Figs. 6 and '7 is not in use thebox-like structure 31' is disposed in the position'in which it is'shown by full lines in Fig. 6 and when said box-like structure is so positioned the head portion of the bolt 31 projects into the notch 34 formed in the wall 3lc thereof, whereby the' leg portion 35 is locked against movement whichlwo'ul'd move the efiectively positioned sparkingele'ment 38"lon gitudinally of the abrasive member 33. Also, when the box-like structure 3| is positioned as is shown by full lines in Fig. 6, the projected portions 3lb of the opposed side walls of said box-like structure contact with the forward portion of the leg portion 35 and cam said forward portion of said leg portion, and the effectively positioned sparking element 38 associated therewith, away from the abrasive member 33. When the device of Figs. 6 and 7 is to be actuated to produce sparks, the box-like structure 31 is rotated to the position in which it is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 to free the head portion of the bolt 31 from the notch 34 and to permit the effectively positioned sparking element to move to a position where it may be caused, by movement of the leg portion 35, to move relative to and in contact with the abrasive member 33 to produce sparks.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a box-like structure 39 which is provided with a wall 39a that has formed thereon a projection 43 which provides a cam having an inclined edge 40'. The projection 4|] serves, when the device is not in use, to maintain the forward end portion of the leg portion 4! in a position where the effectively positioned sparking element 42 is retained in a position where it is spaced a substantial distance from the abrasive member 43, as is shown in Fig. 8. When, however, the device is to-be actuated to produce sparks the handle of the device is grasped and the leg portion 41 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9, whereupon the head 14 which supports the sparking elements 42 will slide downwardly along the inclined edge 40 of the pro-- jection so as to permit theeffectively positionedsparking element to contact with the abrasive member and produce sparks.

We claim: v r 1. A lighting device comprising a resilient supporting element having leg'portions capable of relative movement, an abrasive member supported by one leg portion of said resilient supporting element, a sparking element supported ;by another leg portion of said supporting element, said supporting element being'yieldable to permit movement of said sparking' element relativeto said abrasive member in contact therewith, and; means for preventing unintended movement 'of' said sparking element relative to said abrasive member in contact therewith, said means'com-' prising an element which is movably supported: by said leg portion that supports'said sparking element and which serves on actuation thereof to one position to maintain saidsparking element out of spark-producing contact with respect to said abrasive member.

2. A lighting device comprising a resilient'supporting element having leg portions capable of relative movement, an abrasive member supported by one leg portion of said resilient supporting element, a sparking element supported by another leg portion of said supporting element, said supporting element being yieldable to permit movement of said sparking element relative to said abrasive member in contact therewith, and means for preventing unintended movement of said sparking element relative to said abrasive member in-contact therewith, said means comprising an operating element which is movably v supported by said leg portionwhich supports said sparking element and which is adapted to move said sparking element into and out of its effective sparking position with respect to said abrasive member.

3-. A lighting device comprising a resilient supporting element having leg portions capable of relative movement, an abrasive member supported by one leg portion of said resilient supportin element, a sparking element supported by another leg portion of said supporting element, said supporting element being yieldable to permit movement of said sparking element relative to said abrasive member in contact therewith, and means for preventing unintended movement of said sparking element relative to said abrasive member in contact therewith, said means comprising an operating element which is slidably supported by said leg portion which supports said sparking element, a head on which said sparking element is mounted, and means for connecting said head to said operating element whereby appropriate movement of said operating element will move said sparking element into and out of its effective sparking position with respect to said abrasive member.

4. A lighting device comprising a resilient supporting element having leg portions capable of relative movement, an abrasive member supported by one leg portion of said resilient supporting element, a sparking element supported by another leg portion of said supporting elezine-9.95

S av w y .sa iesn9ntien whi sup-i said spa w iee element a he si on women pa tin ele ent IIAQUJEPEJQ, m ans tie h n said d. to .se si. epera in ele ent.

whereby appropriate movement of saiclpperating 'e emeet wil mqvs sa d. sparki .element n n 9 1; Q i effec sp rk ng pes ti n with whieh. tend t mor said Op rat e em nt 9 pps ti 'n Wh re aid pa e ement is 91 i Q it i-efi c ive spark ng p sit with r s qt to said ab asiv m mber. 7

v 5- Alisht e device mpris n a e lient support El men h ng le por ons amble 9i el ti e o nt an. a a i e membe l noriesl y ne e po tion 9f said esilisntsnnpo in e m n a p king element s spense y anothe por ie Q id. vs 1911 .rti e isnt s i s p ort n e emen ing viewable to pe mitmovemen of' a s n e ment relar ive to s d. a asive m mber n was th rewi h, a d means o e ting nin en d merement of said sparking element relative to s aigi es vem mbe in ntest there th, se dm an comprising an operating element which is slid bl ppb ed 5 idle orti whi h slipports said sparking e1eme'nt',,a head on which said sparking element is mounted, means com? pr sin a lt fer' o c g said hea o said operating element whereby' appropriate mpvement' of said operating element will move saigi sparking element into and out of its efleetive sparking position with respect to said abrasive member, and leaf spring means which engages a portion of said bolt anql which tends to jnbve saicl' operating element to a position where said sparking element is out of its effective sparking sit o h r s c t said bras e ember,

6. A lighting device comprising a resilient supporting element having leg portions capable 'of relative movement, an abrasive member supp r ed y one L g pqr en 9f sai resil en sulpabu membern nt st ther w h. s id means m mber n n t here ith a dl portin member. lansparkmg. element supp rted by enetherl port on of said supportin .filfi merit. .i support n e ement be n yie deblei perm t movement Qt sa d spark n ,elemenirelae merebsn 1- A ig ting,dev se qleseis ee .ees lientsw p r l ment ha e; leg 9 t 1. Qi e a ve-movementene esivs y one e p rt on 9 sa d sens r-tins el m nt i searleeg. e e n sus ense by ai the le pe t en P aid npp ii a said supporting element be" g reld; file mi mo m n 01' se d s ar to Said abr s e v-msmbr is nd m ans I9 P e entin umnfienqed.

.1- s id sp rkieekelemem relative t sei rising a cam tie .x e ies s isl element aw yr 'om sa d rasive mem er t .0;

park-Produc ng c nta i with .resp a EE EHE Q S .QITED "I-ne followin re erenc s a eiqf s mi-d in My? fi e @i this pa ent;

T D re s A NTS umb r m Pate 327,065 r Se t 29. 5 .8% 1,764,8 6 S sal June i93 5 oh -s 1.5. .4933

.li-rm-p-i Apr- ,21; .lgl FOREIGN PATENTS 

